When old Yankee Stadium hosted its final season, I felt we were losing a national treasure. As the Islanders' season came to a close in Uniondale, I found myself feeling something slightly similar.

The Islanders' success on Long Island -- Stanley Cup championships in 1980, '81, '82 and '83 -- rivals any New York team outside of the Bronx.

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the friendly confines of the working-class New York hockey team, has hosted more championships (four) than the current version of Madison Square Garden for the Knicks and Rangers combined (three).

Amazingly, the Coliseum also has hosted more championships than the Mets and Jets have combined (three). This undervalued team even has many championships as the New York Giants have Super Bowl wins.

Though the Coliseum surely isn't Yankee Stadium, Long Island is losing a major-league presence whose championship pedigree has not been appreciated.